Move Home Without Nightmares!

Moving house can be a very stressful event, but these ten tips will help you to avoid some of the worst pitfalls.

Moving home is said to be one of life's most stressful upsets, up there alongside bereavement, divorce and losing one's job. However, with a little prior planning, you can anticipate and overcome many of the pains of relocating.

I speak from recent experience, having been in my new (rented) home for a month. Those who know me will confirm that I'm one of the world's most muddled individuals, so moving house would be a tall order for me alone. Fortunately, my wife is extraordinarily methodical, so she took control of this project and did a splendid job. Phew, what a relief!

In addition, our relocation was made much easier by the fact that we stayed within the same street. In fact, we moved into the house diagonally opposite, so only our house number and the last character of our postcode changed!

Anyway, based on our recent experiences, here are ten tips to make your next move a little less painful...

1.    Employ a professional removals firm

Lots of things can go wrong on the day of a move. Items can be dropped, fixtures can be damaged, and things can go missing or be stolen. Hence, if you can afford it, I'd recommend using a professional remover. For example, a member of the British Association of Removers will have specialist insurance cover to cover goods in transit and on arrival. In addition, having your packing done by a removals firm takes away a whole lot of stress!

2.    Create a `snag list'

Like a good boy Scout, you must `be prepared'. Before moving into a new property, take the time to give the place a good once-over, noting any problems areas that require attention or repair. The most pressing jobs will need doing first, but less important improvements can be left until you've settled in.

3.    Get appliances checked and serviced before you move in

The last thing you need after moving is to discover that there's no heating or hot water. Thus, when you move into a new property, make sure that heating, lighting, cooking and washing facilities are ready for use. Also, it makes sense to have the boiler serviced by a CORGI engineer, and have other household appliances (dishwasher, fridge/freezer, washing machine, etc) checked over. In particular, if your washing machine isn't ready to use, then make sure you know the address of a local laundrette.

4.    Order new locks and keys in advance

If locks and keys need replacing, be sure to order these in advance. You can book a professional locksmith to fit new locks on your day of arrival, if this is a priority.

5.    Let professional cleaners take the strain

You may need to spring-clean both properties: the one you're leaving and the one you're moving to. If you can spare the time, then feel free to do the work yourself. Alternatively, a professional house-clean (including all surfaces and steam-cleaning of carpets) will set you back about £250 (and less outside of London). This may be cheaper than hiring cleaning equipment, buying extra cleaning products, and giving up your precious time to do the job yourself.

6.    Watch out for parking restrictions

Imagine how upset you'd be if you got a parking ticket for, say, £40 on the first day in your new home. So, be sure to check parking restrictions in your new street and give this information to the removers. Having the right parking permit (or plenty of change for parking meters) will save you a lot of grief!

7.    Connect telephone, broadband and television as early as possible

If, like me, you work from home, then it's absolutely vital to have your communications up and running as soon as possible. BT can transfer over telephone numbers and activate phone lines at fairly short notice. However, activating broadband takes BT Wholesale a minimum of 3-5 working days.

Disastrously, BT Wholesale made an unholy mess of my broadband activation, leaving me with no Internet at home for almost three weeks. Thus, I was forced to work at a local wi-fi hotspot, causing my productivity to plunge and costing me a fortune in lost income. Likewise, I understand that satellite and cable TV providers have a poor reputation for customer service, so keep a close eye on these suppliers!

8.    Make arrangements for childcare

My wife and I have two children under seven, so we needed extra help with childcare on moving day. Luckily, my mother retired earlier this year, so she was happy to stay with us for a week. However, if you can't call on relatives to help out, then you may need to shell out for a babysitter, childminder, nanny or nursery on moving day. Also, pets may need to spend the day at kennels, a cattery or somewhere similar.

9.    Have some emergency rations handy

Moving house is a hard work, so you won't have much time to stop and eat. Furthermore, lugging boxes around all day is thirsty stuff, so be sure to have some snacks and drinks on standby. You'll be worn out by the end of the day, so find a decent takeaway restaurant in advance. Also, it's a good idea to buy spare light bulbs, as some people remove everything that isn't nailed down when they leave!

10. Safeguard your mail and send `change of address' notices

Usually, it takes months to notify people and organisations of your change of address. I recommend using the Royal Mail redirection service, which is available for one, three, six or twelve months. Given that some important documents -- such as insurance policies -- only arrive once a year, I suggest paying £35.95 for twelve months' service (double this for a company). This works out at under £3 a month and will help stop you falling victim to identity fraud.

Finally, informing people of your new contact details is far easier these days, thanks to the wonders of the Web. Check out the I Am Moving and Move Me websites for brilliant help with all aspects of moving home and notifying companies and organisations. And bear in mind that, if you need boxes to pack up all your stuff, Boxes and Bubbles should be able to help.

I'm not quite done yet, as I've found another ten tips to help home-movers. So, watch this space for part two!

More: Get a handsome home loan in our mortgage centre | Buy Your First Home For Less | How To Cut Your Mortgage By £127,447